411 REFERENCE · Wikibooks
Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. exd5/3...exd5/4. Bd3
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Exchange Variation rd nd bd qd kd bd nd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd pd pl bl pl pl pl pl pl pl rl nl bl ql kl nl rl
Exchange Variation
The easy way for Black to keep the balance, and also the main line, is maintaining the symmetry: 4...Bd6.
If Black wants to unbalance the game and reduce the chances that the game ends in a draw, they can try 4...c5. Although this allows White to give Black an isolated d-pawn (5.dxc5), Black gets a space advantage and some initiative as a compensation.
Black can also try to go for queenside castling and unbalance the game this way: 4...Nc6, followed by development of Bc8 and Qd8.
Theory table
.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4. Bd3
4
5
Main Line
...Bd6
Nf3Nf6
=
1
...c5
dxc5Bxc5
=
2
...Nc6
Nf3Bg4
=
References
French Defence
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